II Chronicles Chapter 8
Please read: II Chronicles 8 –
The Temple and the palace were not the only building projects of King Solomon. The Bible mentions that he had many more buildings he constructed. He was also known for his ventures out into the trades of sea merchants. Solomon built the kingdom of Israel into a great kingdom. The LORD God blessed him at every venture.
Solomon was not perfect, and as we know his downfall became his many wives. We see a glimpse of this in this chapter as he took a wife, a daughter of the Pharoah. This marriage was most likely some sort of political move, but one that he should not have made because he knew that his heart could not be one with hers since she was not a believer in the one true God.
Let's Reflect
1. The first verse mentions cities that Solomon rebuilt. They are labeled as gifts from Hiram but in reality, they were cities that Solomon had tried to give to Hiram previously, but he did not want them. After Solomon rebuilt the unwanted cities what did he do with them?
2. Verse 8 tells us that Solomon drafted people to be forced labor in the work of rebuilding these cities. Who were the people he caused to be laborers for him?
3. How did Solomon honor those who were Israelites? See verse 9-10.
4. Solomon would not allow his new wife, the daughter of Pharoah to be in the places ordained by God. He knew that she worshipped other gods, Egyptian gods. What did he do for his wife instead?
5. Solomon’s heart had not turned away from God, but the marriage was a dangerous fire to be playing with. At this point Solomon still sought to please God in all that he did. What did he do that shows he was still wanting to be obedient to his LORD?
6. Did Solomon have the cooperation of the elders, priests, and leaders of the Israelites?
